Deilephila elpenor

Common card · No. 290446

Deilephila elpenor, the elephant hawk moth or large elephant hawk moth, is a moth in the family Sphingidae. Its common name is derived from the caterpillar's resemblance to an elephant's trunk. It is most common in Central Europe and is distributed throughout the Palearctic region. It has also been introduced in British Columbia, Canada. Its distinct olive and pink colouring makes it one of the most recognisable moths in its range, but confusing the elephant hawk moth with the small elephant hawk moth, a closely related species that also shares the characteristic colours, is quite common. These moths are nocturnal, so feed on flowers that open or produce nectar at night. The elephant hawk moth has very sensitive eyes that allow it to see colour even at low light, and it was one of the first species in which nocturnal colour vision was documented in animals. The moth is also known for its hovering capability, which it uses when feeding on nectar from flowers. This behaviour is costly in...

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